Nixon’s composing is as seemingly effortless as his playing, which makes light of what are often quite complex tunes.
—Chris May, All About Jazz
Following up his two trio albums with Nixon, Croft, and Goretti (In Congruence, 2021 and Outside Agitators, 2024), pianist and composer Andrew Nixon has put forth a new piano/bass duo album along with bassist James Benders, titled Rough Edges. The style here is at times very free and at times very structured, with six new original compositions joining two spontaneous improvisations. From Andrew Nixon: “This is a wonderfully unique recording. I love these pieces and James (Benders) gave them exactly what they needed. I think the result is something very fresh and interesting”. Rough Edges follows a solo piano album released late in 2024 titled Other Ways. Both are available now on Bandcamp.
The first, titled Other Ways is a solo piano offering, with six previously unrecorded original compositions along with three reinterpreted from the trio recordings.
The second release is an adventurous piano and bass duo recording featuring bassist James Benders, titled Rough Edges. The style here is at times very free and at times very structured, with 6 new original compositions joining 2 spontaneous improvisations.
“Nixon’s composing is as seemingly effortless as his playing, which makes light of what are often quite complex tunes.” —Chris May, All About Jazz
“Apart from composing, (Andrew) Nixon is a stand out pianist who swings like the long gone greats but still lives in the present.” —BebopSpokenHere
The first, titled Other Ways is a solo piano offering, with six previously unrecorded original compositions along with three reinterpreted from the trio recordings.
Andrew Nixon on Other Ways
“This recording features nine piano compositions through which I attempt a more open and “free" approach to improvisation, as compared to my two previous trio recordings. Playing solo allows for more liberty to be taken with tempo, harmony and form, and thus I did so here.”The second release is an adventurous piano and bass duo recording featuring bassist James Benders, titled Rough Edges. The style here is at times very free and at times very structured, with 6 new original compositions joining 2 spontaneous improvisations.Andrew Nixon on Rough Edges
This is unique recording. I love these pieces and James (Benders) gave them exactly what they needed. I think the result is something very fresh and interesting.”About Andrew Nixon
Andrew Nixon is an accomplished jazz pianist and composer whose music has been broadcast on jazz radio stations around the country and the world. After several years of playing keyboards in rock and blues bands, he began studying jazz with pianist / composer Paul Hofmann, and later earned a masters degree in music theory from the State University of New York at Buffalo, where he also studied classical piano and composition. In addition to performing, composing, recording and mixing, Nixon teaches privately to a full roster of 40+ students. His first two jazz trio albums of original compositions with the group Nixon, Croft and Goretti have garnered critical acclaim:“Nixon’s composing is as seemingly effortless as his playing, which makes light of what are often quite complex tunes.” —Chris May, All About Jazz
“Apart from composing, (Andrew) Nixon is a stand out pianist who swings like the long gone greats but still lives in the present.” —BebopSpokenHere
